VIU vs Okanagan College: Season Openers

NANAIMO – The VIU Mariners women's basketball team has plenty of height, athleticism, and experience. The squad looks to put it all together right from the start of the season at home against the Okanagan College Coytoes (Kelowna, BC).

 When & Where

• Friday, October 18 at the VIU Gymnasium, 5 p.m.
• Saturday, October 19 at the VIU Gymnasium, 11 a.m. 

After this weekend, games will revert to the usual 6 p.m. start times on Fridays and 1 p.m. start time on Saturday.

On Friday, the VIU Students' Union is hosting a free tailgate party between the Gym and the Students' Union Buliding (Building 193), starting at 3 p.m.

Tune In

Home games will be streamed live on YouTube. Streaming links can also be found on the PACWEST website and PACWEST.TV.

Head-To-Head

The Mariners took all four matchups with the Coyotes in 2023-24, winning 66-56 and 91-68 in Kelowna in November and 66-50 and 77-46 at VIU in January. 

Watch Out Now

For the Coyotes, Madison Terbasket-Winser brings height and experience to the forward position; she played in 16 games with VIU in the 2019-20 season. Spanish guard Paula Ortiz Caballero joins the Coyotes as a transfer. 

For the Mariners, 2023-24 All-Canadian Makayla Kimble is back for her fifth season along with North Carolina running mate Kaia Simpson. She was at the top of the league in points scored per/40 minutes.

Fresh Faces 

Imaan Lali, a tenacious guard from Surrey, was a redshirt with VIU last season. The expectation is that she will join the lineup later in the fall or at the start of the spring semester.

Transfers

• Harriette Mackenzie (Comox, B.C.) is back! The 2022 CCAA national championship MVP returns to VIU after a year with the MRU Cougars (U Sports).
• Rachel Labrador (Vancouver, B.C.) spent the first three years of her varsity career with the Langara Falcons. The 5'9" guard has transfered to VIU to continue her studies and bolster the guard position.
• Margarita Salas (Las Cruces, NM) -- a.k.a. Maggie -- is a pass-first guard who played last season with a talented Edmonds College Tritons team in the Northwest Athletic Conference.

Fifth Years

Kimble is the only student-athlete on the roster in her fifth year of eligiblity, but forward Mackenzie Hall (Duncan, BC) is expecting to graduate after this season, making it her final year in the white, black, and blue.

Coaches

Tony Bryce returns as head coach along with long-time assistant Luke Holmes. Chloe Hatch and Ann Ulmer join as assistants. 

For more information, please contact VIU Mariners Communications & Sports Information Coordinator Matt Carter.